Blackhall Camp - Formation and training: Difference between revisions
Blackhall Camp - Formation and training (view source)
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One week after the Battalion had been formed, Battalion HQ saw a meagre population of just 75 recruits. Just over two months later and the site had been transformed into something entirely different, supporting A, B and D Companies. On [[3 December]], the same day Captain Diggle was appointed the role of Adjutant, the War Office conveyed that the Lonsdale Battalion was officially to become known as the 11th (Service) Battalion, Border Regiment (Lonsdale).<ref name="lons-england" /> During December the hutments were being built as to accommodate the increasing number of recruits. One month later on [[3 January]] 1915, the Lonsdale Battalion had reached a total strength of 1,152 non-commissioned officers and men<ref name="lons-booklet" /> and on [[5 January]] all four Companies were now stationed at Blackhall and the Battalion was, on paper, attached to the 124th Infantry Brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General Collings. Training would continue in much the same manner until the men, some just boys, were deemed ready for battle. They were not ready just yet. The various skill-sets included scouts, stretcher bearers and signallers. Digging entrenchments and bayonet fighting had to be second nature, as would firing a [[Glossary:Lee-Enfield|Lee-Enfield rifle]] and being able to handle the water-cooled [[Glossary:Vickers machine gun|Vickers machine gun]], which would in late 1915 be replaced with the lighter Lewis machine gun.
The Lonsdales were transferred to the [[Glossary:Brigade, 112th|112th Brigade]] on [[16 March]] 1915, under Brigadier-General Mackenzie. The work the officers and men had put into creating a disciplined and well-trained unit did not go unnoticed when those who inspected Blackhall<ref>The inspector of Recruiting from the War Officer, the Muskerty Staff Officer from Headquarters (Western Command), and a Staff Officer for Physical Drill (Inspector of Gymnasia).</ref> during March 1915, reported to Lt-Col. Machell that his Battalion was "far ahead of other service battalions."<ref name="lons-england" /> The Lonsdales were starting to turn heads in the upper echelons of the Brigade. This was a good sign. On [[8 May]] the early group of recruits that formed the initial strength of the Battalion would finally leave Blackhall for training grounds beyond their familiar home counties. Their first port of call was [[Prees Heath camp]] in Salop (present-day Shropshire) where the Lonsdales joined the proud Glasgow men of the 15th, 16th and 17th Battalions of the [[Glossary:Highland Light Infantry|Highland Light Infantry]], forming the [[Glossary:Brigade, 97th|97th Brigade]] under the command Brigadier-General Hacket Thompson.<ref name="lons-england" /> The Borders and Highlanders, however, moved on Wensleydale in Yorkshire on the [[22 June]] owing to the unsuitability of the ground for Brigade Training. There they remained under
At 1am on [[23 November]] 1915, the Lonsdale Battalion left for France with the rest of the 97th Brigade, now under the command of Brigadier-General Jardine, on board the steamer, the ''[[Glossary:Princess Victoria (ship)|Princess Victoria]]''. Their time at Blackhall, Prees Heath, Wensleydale and Salisbury Plain had come to and end. The previous months' training would now have to be addressed in real combat situations, putting into practice the skills and tactics they had developed over the previous year. To stay alive and come back home to [[Glossary:Blighty|Blighty]] would have been the first, and last, thing on their minds as they sailed towards the unknown in a war that was to last another three bitter, long years.
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